While I was home in Dallas, Texas, I came across an article on the Huffington Post that stated that the 2012 GOP platform opposes "higher order thinking skills." Naturally, I guffawed. Isn't this what we want to happen in classrooms across the country? Apparently, Texas Republicans think not.
The GOP platform believes that higher order thinking skills and critical thinking skills challenge "students fixed beliefs" and, ultimately, undermine "parental authority." At the heart of the matter are parents' roles in their child's education. If students are taught to think critically, then they must eventually challenge what their parents have taught them, Republicans believe. What is more frightening to me, though, is the notion that we should not challenge students' fixed beliefs. I'm sure some of us can imagine what would happen if we didn't challenge some of their beliefs, or if some of our beliefs were not challenged when we were students. As teachers, and as future parents, we must begin to question what our roles in our children's education might be. Will we be the primary source of not only knowledge, but also beliefs, in our children's lives? To what extent should our children question what they have been taught by parents and teachers?
What was interesting to me, though, was perusing what other items made it onto the section "Educating our Children" on the platform document. If you would like to see the platform document, it is linked here. Along with opposing higher order thinking, Texas GOPs opposes any "sex education other than abstinence," advocates for corporal punishment, and believes that the "Department of Education (DOE) should be abolished."
I recommend reading the full document to understand the entire position from which the GOP is coming. It was not until I read it completely that I found their other recommendations. Regardless of your political beliefs, it is crucial that as educators we understand the platforms of political parties, especially in an election year. It is our duty to know the education platform of these parties and vote for who we think will fight for the best for our students.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I, too, am guffawed by the GOP’s platform against higher order thinking. It is particularly interesting to consider Texas Republicans’ stance in light of the fact that the United States would not have been established without higher order thinking skills—analyzing, evaluating, and creating. When North America was first populated and subject to British reign, we suffered oppression and taxation without representation by the British government. Fortunately, we as a nation were able to analyze the nation’s economic and political state and evaluate it as one that we thought was not in line with the values we wanted to promote. Consequently, after a war a number of expertly authored texts, we created a nation that protected and preserved the values we wanted to uphold. I would implore Texas Republicans to re-evaluate their stance (if that is permissible) or more clearly define what is meant by “critical thinking skills” in a way that is applicable to the classroom.
Post a Comment